Tesla's efforts to introduce its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software in Europe have achieved a significant breakthrough. The Flanders region of Belgium stated on Tuesday that it is examining the possibility of rapidly adopting the technology following its approval in the Netherlands.
Last month, Dutch regulators granted temporary approval for the software's use on local roads, making the Netherlands the first European Union country to permit Tesla's FSD system. While the software can control the vehicle, it requires drivers to remain attentive at all times. Flanders' Minister of Mobility, Annick De Ridder, indicated on social media that she has requested relevant documentation from Tesla to assess potential implementation. She emphasized that innovation should not be hindered but rather enabled through careful and safe measures, with the goal of keeping Flanders at the forefront of technological advancement.
Despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk's optimism about swift EU-wide approval for FSD, regulatory authorities in several countries including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway have expressed skepticism regarding the technology and its benefits. Emails reviewed by Reuters reveal that Nordic regulators have raised concerns about the system's tendency to exceed speed limits, reliability under winter conditions such as icy roads, and potential circumvention of mobile usage restrictions by drivers.
In Belgium, transportation regulation falls under regional jurisdiction. Tesla has also submitted applications to Wallonia, the French-speaking region, while the Brussels-Capital Region has not yet responded to requests for comment. The European Commission's technical committee is scheduled to hear a presentation from Dutch officials this week, though an immediate vote is not anticipated.
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